No, there are restrictions on F2P players, but not from using GTN, pretty sure there are restrictions to how much you can put on the GTN to sale, but that has nothing to do the purchases. However, the amount of credits a F2P player can have in their inventory would restrict them to what they could afford to purchase.

Yeah most anything, even unlocks...some really stupid unlocks too. Like having operations listed for 1 million credits, anyone that can afford the unlock does not need the unlock because they are a subscriber.

Just FYI, when using GTN a item is a item. So scroll around to find the lowest price for that idea. On somethings prices can be way out of whack. A Advanced Might Hilt 27 is a Advanced Might Hilt 27, if it is selling for 1.5 million credits or 9.5K credits it is the exact same thing, so purchase the 9.5K credit one.

To the first question: You don't actually lose any credits you earn beyond the limit, but they are stored by BioWare in case you become a preferred player or a subscriber, at which point you get your credits back. To the second, a simple "yes" suffices.

To the first question: You don't actually lose any credits you earn beyond the limit, but they are stored by BioWare in case you become a preferred player or a subscriber, at which point you get your credits back. To the second, a simple "yes" suffices.

Well the fact that they store them is decent of them I suppose.
To put it simply then would any cartel coin purchase (no matter how small) make me a preferred player?

I noticed something interesting on Origin (yes I have it but I wanted ME3 so ) that I can buy SWTOR.
There's 2 versions: the "Standard Edition" and "Digital Deluxe Edition".
What benefits (if any) where there be to me buying the game? I wouldn't mind buying the game if there was some actual in-game benefits to me doing so.

If you want the fun of endgame content then subscription is the way to go.

At $15 a month for subscribers it is a really decent deal. Extra quirks as they are with quickbars and such or things on the cartel market that will say free to subs, so many more places to put your stuff. (George Carlin reference there)

Plus for me the endgame content is worth it.

As for the digital edition, you get a free speeder that levels with you meaning you wouldn't need to buy a speeder ever. And its a decent looking speeder. You get a flare gun and a dancing twilek hologram and VIP badge to go to the VIP section on the fleet and some other little knickknacks. The speeder itself is the only thing worth it to me from the digital pack. Plus any other toons you create automatically get the speeder and other things mailed to them the minute they start.

You still can't use the speeder until you visit the trainer for it but you don't have to buy one. But you can also buy speeders on the GTN that level with you for really cheap so it is up to you.

Bottom line: You're not going to get cartel coins unless you buy cartel coin packs or subscribe. They are not free, they're not meant to be free, they're meant for subscribers and people who pay money to buy the packs. Anything you think will get your cartel coins aside from the two things already mentioned isn't going to work.

Got a 1M Artifact unlock for my entire account, using a subber helping me than sending COD mails of 350, 350 and 300 (yes, I am a pref. player).

So if you got some great friends who are sub, you can use that to get around the limitations without needing the cartel coins (1800 IIRC for the item I just mentioned, that's over $30)...

EDIT:
Buying the game should be around $13-15. It's basically only a month sub, nothing more nothing less. If you pay more than that you're getting robbed (well unless for those VIP-extras of course)...

Yeah, but if you're thinking of getting friendly subs to buy you unlocks for cheap, you'll be disappointed. Remember, this is real world money when we talk about cartel coins. You'll be able to get a bunch of other stuff that's inconsequential but if you're really going to worry about unlocks to begin with, you may as well just put down the money to buy the cartel coin packs anyway.

Cool, the free month that comes with the game will definitely put me on that list then? I'm guessing that 1 month suscribed might also get me some Cartel Coins?

The game is free. You don't pay for the game. It's not a "free month", the month is what you're buying.
And yes, it will also grant 500 CC

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I could get Preferred player status, then a friendly sub can trade me cartel items for in-game credits.

No, since as pref. player you can't send money, either with trade or mail. Only mails with COD will work.

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Remember, this is real world money when we talk about cartel coins.

Not really, since they'll just buy it for you from the GTN. No CC for you, no CC for them.
Yes, it does limit availability somewhat, but no-one's paying any real money (well, the sub for his/her sub, but that's it)

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you may as well just put down the money to buy the cartel coin packs anyway.

*most* (not all) cartel pack items are for sale on the GTN. Usually cheap, like the Speeder bike cheaper than even the lvl 2 from the store and it gets more speed the higher your speeder level.
And if you really need it, the packs itself are for sale too. Not too cheap though (usually around 200.000 credits).

The game is free. You don't pay for the game. It's not a "free month", the month is what you're buying.
And yes, it will also grant 500 CC

No, since as pref. player you can't send money, either with trade or mail. Only mails with COD will work.

Not really, since they'll just buy it for you from the GTN. No CC for you, no CC for them.
Yes, it does limit availability somewhat, but no-one's paying any real money (well, the sub for his/her sub, but that's it)

So paying for the game which includes the months subscription is the only way to do the mails with COD??

As stated before, the game is free. So paying for "the game" doesn't "include a month sub", a month sub is all you pay for. If any store asks more, they're ripping you off (I have seen some here do that).

And yes, being a sub is the only way to send mails with COD. Non-subs can receive them though.

COD is adding an item and then the user can only accept it upon paying a fee (then given to the mailer). It's a way to make sure you're not ripped off, and the other person really has to pay you to get his item(s)...

So paying for the game which includes the months subscription is the only way to do the mails with COD??

(What is COD btw)

COD=Cash on Delivery

Or in this case, credits..

I am not totally sure I understand what it is you are trying to accomplish.. The best value for the money is to simply be a subscriber.. Subscribers have no restrictions to any content or anything thing else..

There is the FAQ for F2P in SWTOR.. It can answer all your questions about restrictions and what Prefered Vs. Free 2 play and subscribers..

As a subscriber, I am given a monthly allotment of Cartel Coins.. Which is 500 coins.. I also get 100 coins for having the authenticator.. For a total of 600 coins a month.. That is the only way to get free coins.. 500 for being a subscriber and 100 for having a security key..

The security key is both a keychain thing that can be purchased on the link above.. There is also a downloadable app for smart phones..

As far as I know, you can only purchase additional Cartel Coins from the website.. The first link in this post.. The in game button to buy more simply takes you to the website..

What I was basically trying to figure out is would buying the game on Origin obtain me a preferred player status?

I am not sure how to answer that one.. The retail copies you purchase come with 30 days free.. I don't know if Bioware/EA flag your account as a subscriber during that first 30 days or not.. If they do, then yes, when your 30 days expires, you will be bumped down to prefered..

One small clarification.. During the 30 days free play time.. You do not have any of the restrictions that go along with a F2P and a prefered status account.. You have all the options and freedoms of a subscriber.. I just don't know one way or the other if when that 30 days end, you are bumped down to F2P or prefered.. My guess is prefered..

Having said that, back in the day when you had to buy this game, part of the account setup process was setting up a payment option for a subscription.. You were not allowed to play the game until this process was complete.. I do not know if it still works that way.. Mind you subscription could also mean game time cards, so you didn't need a credit card.. If you did use a credit card, your subscription fee didn't start until AFTER the free 30 day period..

Since free to play has been released.. I don't know if what I have just said is still true..

I do know that you can download the game free, but there is no free 30 days attached to it.. It is just the game, and you are automatically setup as a free to play player..

Buying the game on origin won't make a difference. Plus, avoid Origin.

The MINIMUM you'd need to do to becoming a preferred player is to spend at least 4.99USD on the game, which is exactly the same as buying the cheapest cartel coin pack. Any thing else you do is overcomplicating matters and is pointless.

I am not sure how to answer that one.. The retail copies you purchase come with 30 days free.. I don't know if Bioware/EA flag your account as a subscriber during that first 30 days or not.. If they do, then yes, when your 30 days expires, you will be bumped down to prefered..

This is basically what I was trying to find out, whether buying the game would seal the preferred status.

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Originally Posted by Lynk Former

Buying the game on origin won't make a difference. Plus, avoid Origin.

The MINIMUM you'd need to do to becoming a preferred player is to spend at least 4.99USD on the game, which is exactly the same as buying the cheapest cartel coin pack. Any thing else you do is overcomplicating matters and is pointless.

Cool, well maybe i'll make an actual purchase of in-game items via the cartel coins at some point then.

5 dollar on 500 coins or 15 dollar on those coins and a month sub. I personally took the second approach, seemed better (especially seeing I haven't even used any of those 500 yet).
But, your choice.

After a sub ends you're automatically a preferred player, even if you haven't bought cartels coins before that, or after that.

If you buy the game all you have to do is enter the keycode to the site, and 30 days are added. No cred requirements, no payments afterwards needed. After those days are up, so is your sub status... you can re-activate it whenever you want though if you miss it. Personally I don't play nearly enough to warrant $15 dollar a month (13 euro a month). The pref. status with unlocks suits me (and my gaming style) a lot better...